OklahomaHorses Magazine March 2023

28 OklahomaHorses • March / April 2023 Another well-known horse was a stallion named Cold Deck, who was born during a racing event at Van Buren to a mare that the Starrs had sold to the Blakes. Some- one said, “Name him Cold Deck, for I’ve played poker all night on a cold deck.” The Adairs George Harlan Starr and his wife, Nancy Bell Starr (1814–1864), were close cousins of Oscar Adair (1848–1923) and his wife, Mary Catherine Rider Adair (1859–1914). In 1865, Oscar fought in the Civil War in a Confederate Cherokee cavalry unit in troops under Brigadier General Stand Watie. After the war, Oscar moved from Oak Grove near Stilwell to the Sequoyah District of the Cherokee Nation. He served as judge of that district in the 1880s and raised racehorses, among other things. He and his brothers built a racetrack in the middle of the section where they lived. It was the first racetrack in that area. Oscar’s grandson John Adair says, “More than likely, it was a straightaway. It was in use in Indian Territory days and after state- hood and was probably for quarter horses. It was located approximately three-fourths of a mile northeast of the present-day Badger Lee Church north of Sallisaw in Sequoyah County on what was known then as Adair Prairie.” Oscar’s son Carrigan Adair, an original Cherokee allottee, took care of the last descendants of his father’s horses, Betty and Dan. Carrigan’s daughter Mary Adair says, ”As far as I know, they just raced each other around the pasture for fun. They did pull the plow and wagon when needed, howev- er. After Dad died, Uncle John Adair kept Betty and Dan and loved them dearly…. They died of old age.” That brings us back to John Adair (Mary’s brother), who also remembers those days. “Growing up, I was born and raised with my relatives on Cherokee allotted land, and after my dad passed away when I was one, my Uncle John Adair was old school. We never had a car, but our mode of travel was with a team of horses, so you might say I have been involved with horses for quite some time. Uncle John was up in years but never missed a horse race and had many stories of horses long ago, including Gray Alice.” He continues, “I race primarily thor- oughbreds, but I raced quarter horses a few years ago and raced at a lot of brush tracks prior to Oklahoma’s pari-mutuel. I own thoroughbred mares and breed a few each year. I will have my first quarter horse/paint foal this year. My farm is 80 acres east of Broken Arrow, and I have 40 acres in Sequoyah County near where the old track was located. I have been involved with horses all my life except when I was in school, in the military, or had business commitments.” In 1991, a book on the history and peo- ple of Adair County, Oklahoma, included an illustrated article about Gray Alice. The entire extended Starr-Adair family was so proud of her that succeeding generations preserved her memory. A large picture of Gray Alice hung on the wall of Carrigan Adair’s home and is now on the wall of his son John’s home near Broken Arrow. As for Cherokee Gift, her future looks bright. She will continue the family racing legacy when she runs at Remington Park this spring — and perhaps the spirit of Gray Alice will spur her on to victory. Lindsay Bippus Real Estate Broker / Owner 12342 E. 86th St. N. Owasso 74055 (918) 706-3857 dreammakerrealtyok.com Own your little piece of paradise in Mayes County! Meadow in front of property and tress in back of property. 20 acres m/l. $225,000 • N 431 ROAD • Adair, 74330 • MLS #2242890 Carrigan Adair pauses with Dan (left) and Betty, the last descendants of the racehorses that belonged to his father, Oscar Adair. Photo courtesy of Mary Adair.